Sign



B. SPANGLER Dec. 19, 1961 SIGN Filed Jan. 7, 1959 ATTORNEY 3,013,475SIGN Bernard Spangler, 104 S. 56th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Jan. 7,1959, Ser. No. 785,452 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-132) This invention relates toa sign, and more particularly to a double faced, internally illuminatedsign.

Double faced, internally illuminated signs comprise a frame having apair of spaced faces of transparent or translucent material mountedthereon. The illuminating means, such as electric light bulbs, aremounted on the frame between the faces. The frame. of such a sign shouldnot only be of strong construction, but should also be of such aconstruction that it is easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.Also, the sign should be constructed so as to provide easy access to theilluminating means so that burnt out light bulbs can be easily replaced.

It is an object of the present invention tok provide a double faced,internally illuminated sign.

It is another object of the present invention to, provide a doublefaced, internally illuminated sign in which one of the faces is hingedlymounted on the frame to permit easy access to the illuminating meanswithin the sign.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a doublefaced, internally illuminated sign which is of strong construction, andwhich is easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in thedrawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown. f

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to likeparts:

FIGURE l is a front elevation View, partially broken away, of the signof the present invention. y

FIGURE 2 is a sec-tional view taken `along line 2 2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2..

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing, the sign of the present invention is generallydesignated as 10.

Sign 1t) comprises an annular metal frame 12 of rectangular transversecross-section. Frame 12 has a pair of annular flanges 14 aud 16extending outwardly from the sides of the frame 12. The inner surfacesof the flanges 14 and 16 are flush with the inner surface of the frame12. Frame 12 is shown to be in the form of an ellipse. However, theframe 12 can be in the for-m of a circle, rectangle, or `any otherdesired shape.

A pair of face mounting bands 18 and 20 are secured to the flanges 14and 16 of frame 12. Face mounting bands 18 and 2t) are each F-shaped intransverse crosssection, and -are of the same annular shape as the frame12.

The leg 22 of face mounting band 18 is mounted around the flange 14 offrame 12, with the outer surface of the leg 2,2 being flush with theouter surface of frame nited States Patent O 12. A plurality ofcircumferentially spaced screws 24 extend through the leg 22 and arethreaded into the flange 14 to secure the face mounting band 18 to therame 12. The arms 26 and 28 of the face mounting band 18 extend inwardlyacross the end of the flange 14. An annular gasket 3l) is compressedbetween the inner f. ICC

arm 28 of face mounting band 18 and the end of flange 14 to seal theface mounting baud 18 to the frame 12.

The leg 32 of face mounting band 20 is mounted around the flange 16 offrame 12, with the outer surface of leg 32 being flush with the outersurface of fra/me 12. An elongated hinge 34 extends along the top ofsign 10. One strap 36 of the hinge 34 is secured to the outer surface offrame 12 by screws 3-8. Bolts 40` extend upwardly through the leg 32 offace mounting band 20 and the other strap 42 of the hingeV 34. Nuts 44are threaded on the bolts 40 to secure the strap 42 of hinge 34 to theface mounting band 20. Thus, the face mounting band 20 is hingedlysecured to the frame 12. The arms 46 and 48 of the face mounting band 20extend inwardly across the end of flange 1x6. An `annular gasket 50 iscompressed between the inner arm 48 of face mounting band 2t) and theend of flange 16 to seal the face mounting band 20 to the frame 12. Aplurality of clamps 5-2 are mounted laround the outer surface of frame12 and face mounting band 20. Clamps 52 may be of any releasable typeclamp which can clamp the face mounting b-and 20 tightly to the frameY12., but v upon being released will permit the face mounting band 20 tobe swung outwardly as indicated by arrow 54 in FIGURE 2.

A face plate 56 of a transparent or translucent material, such as laplastic, is mounted across the face mounting band 18, with the edge ofthe face plate 56 fitting between the arms 26 and 28 of the facemounting band 18. A similar face plate 58 is mounted across the facemoun-ting band Ztl with the edge of the face plate 5S fitting betweenthe arms 46 -and'48 of the face mounting band 20'. Face plates 56 and 58have the advertising matter painted or otherwise applied thereto.

A pair of spaced, parallel mounting posts 60 are secured to the innersurface of the frame 12. Mounting posts 60 extend vertically `across theframe v12 adjacent the ends of the frame 12.l As shown in FIGURE 5, eachof the mounting posts 60 comprises a pair of` angle rods 62 and 64secured togetherrat their ends to form a hollow post of squaretransverse cross-section.

, A plurality of iluorescent light tubes 66 extend horizontally betweenthe mounting posts 60. Light tubes 66 are mounted in sockets carried bythe mountingposts '60. A fluorescent light tube 68 extends verticallyIalong the outside of each of the mounting posts 60. Light tubes 68 aremounted in sockets 70 carried by the mounting posts 60. A pair of metalwiring troughs 72 are mounted between the mounting posts 60. Wiringtroughs 72 carry the ballast 74 for the light tubes 66 and 68 as well asthe electrical wiring to the light tube sockets.

An outlet box 76 is mounted on the inner surface of frame 12 at thebottom of the sign 10'. A conduit 78 extends between the outlet box 76and one of the mounting posts 6() and carries the electrical wiring fromthe light tube sockets to the outlet box 76. Outlet box 76 has an outlet8l) extending through the frame 12. Outlet 80 permits a cable from thesource of electrical energy to be passed into the outlet box 76 Wherethe cable is connected to the wiring for the light tube sockets.

A folding arm support 82 is connected between the frame 12 and the facemounting band 20 at the bottom of the sign 10. Folding arm support 82comprises an angle rod 84 and a straight rod 86. One end of the anglerod 84 is pivotably connected to one end of the straight rod 86. Theother end of the angle rod 84 is pivotably mounted on a pin 88 extendingfrom an upright wall on the outlet box 76. The other end of the straightrod 8'6 is connected to the face mounting band 2t). A locking pin 90 issecured to the folding arm support 82 by a chain 92.

When it becomes necessary to replace one of the light tubes 66 or 68 ordo any other 4type of repair wonk in the sign 10, the clamps 52 arereleased. The face mounting band 20 is then swung outwardly from thebottom of the sign as indicated by arrow 54 in FIGURE 2 to a positionshown in phantom.- in FIGURE 2. As the face mounting band is swungoutwardly, the rods 84 and 86 of the folding arm support S2 are pulledoutwardly with the face mounting band 20. This unfolds the rods 34 and86 until the rods 84 and 86 are in alignment. The locking pin 90 is theninserted through aligned holes in the rods 84 and 86 to secure the rods84 and 86 in the aligned position. Thus, the folding arm support 82folds the face mounting band 20 away from the frame 12 so that theoperator has both hands free to do whatever work is necessary Within thesign 10. When the operator completes the work within the sign, thelocking pin 90 is removed, and the face mounting band 20 swung backagainst the frame 12. The clamps 52 are then secured to clamp the facemounting band 20 tightly to the frame 12. Thus there is provided ease ofaccess to the interior of the sign 10.

The frame 12 of the sign 10 of the present invention is made from asingle extruded strip of metal which is bent to the desired shape andthe ends secured together. The face mounting bands 18 and 20 are madefrom identical extruded strips of metal which `are also bent to thedesired shape. The mounting posts 60 are likewise made from identicalstrips of metal which are secured together. Thus, the sign 10 of thepresent invention is made of a minimum number of different parts whichare easy to make and assemble, so that the sign 10 is relativelyinexpensive `to manufacture.

The present invention may be embodied in other speciiie forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specication as indicating the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A sign comprising an annular metal frame having annular flangesextending outwardly from opposite sides of the frame, the innerperipheral surface of said flanges being coextensive with the innerperipheral surface of said frame, a separate annular face mounting bandsecured around each of said anges, each of said bands including a legmounted around its respective ange with the outer surface of the legbeing substantially ush with the outer surface of the frame and a pairof arms projecting inwardly across the end of the respective flange, oneof said bands being tixedly secured to the frame, the other band beinghingedly secured to the top of the frame between said flanges by a hingemeans, a separate faceplate of a translucent material mounted acrosseach of said face supporting bands with the edge of the plates fittingbetween the arms of its respective band, iluorescent luminating meanssupported by posts disposed on said frame between said faceplat, anupright wall on a bottom wall of said frame substantially equidistantfrom the ends of said frame, said upright wall being substantiallyperpendicular to said plates, a folded arm support comprising a pair ofrods pivotably secured together, the free end of one rod being pivotablysecured to said upright wall, the free end of said other rod beingpivotally secured to said other band, latch means solely on said rodsfor latching said support and said other band in an extended position,and latch means on said frame for latching said other band in a positionsubstantially parallel to said one band.

2. In a sign as set forth in claim 1 wherein said posts are a pair ofspaced upright posts spaced from the ends of said frame, said luminatingmeans including a plurality of uorescent light tubes horizontallydisposed between said posts, and at least one wire trough mountedbetween said posts, and ballast for said tubes being mounted on andsupported by said trough.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,087,574 Dawes Feb. 17, 1914 1,361,457 Golden Dec. 7, 1920 1,604,622Weinstein Oct. 26, 1926 2,029,221 Burgess et al. Ian. 28, 1936 2,455,020McQuaid Nov. 30, 1948 2,543,008 French Feb. 27, 1951 2,562,553Howenstine July 31, 1951 2,620,580 Dwindell Dec. 9, 1952 2,626,473Howenstine Jan. 27, 1953 2,769,263 Wamser Nov. 6, 1956 2,833,069 CairnsMay 6, 1958 2,879,614 Baldanza Mar. 31, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,774Great Britain of June 8, 1911 746,958 Germany Sept. 1, 1944

